In a move aimed at curbing air pollution, the Delhi government's new restrictions on private vehicles entering the capital triggered widespread traffic chaos at state borders on Thursday. The rule, which bars vehicles registered outside Delhi and below BS-VI emission standards, led to massive tailbacks at key entry points from Noida and Ghaziabad during the morning rush hour.
Border Barricades Bring Traffic to a Crawl
Major junctions like Ghazipur, Chilla, DND Flyway, and Kalindi Kunj saw barricades set up for enforcement, resulting in vehicle queues stretching over a kilometre by 9 am. The congestion forced police to temporarily remove barriers to ease the gridlock before reinstating them to continue checks. Noida's Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Pravin Ranjan Singh, explained the coordinated effort between Delhi and Uttar Pradesh police. "Delhi traffic police placed barricades on their side, while we installed them near the Noida Gate red light. Non-compliant vehicles were asked to take a U-turn," he stated, noting that traffic flow improved as the day progressed.
Widespread Enforcement and Commuter Disruption
Joint teams of about ten personnel from both sides were deployed at borders. At Kalindi Kunj, near the Okhla Bird Sanctuary Metro station, nearly 150 BS-III and BS-IV vehicles were intercepted and turned back. Similar checks at the DND Flyway toll plaza and Chilla border saw around 200 vehicles each being sent back. The Ghaziabad border also had enforcement in place. Officials estimate the restriction directly affects over five lakh vehicles registered in Noida alone.
Public Outcry Over "Knee-Jerk" Policy
The ban has severely disrupted the daily routines of thousands who live in the National Capital Region (NCR) and work in Delhi, or vice-versa. Jitendra Kumar, a Sector 78 resident who owns a BS-IV Honda Brio, can no longer drive to his Delhi workplace. "I have to depend on carpooling or public transport now. These decisions feel knee-jerk, especially when public transport alternatives are not strengthened in advance," he lamented.
Others questioned the singular focus on vehicles. Sanjeev Kumar from Sector 51, owner of a well-maintained BS-III Volkswagen Vento, argued, "Vehicles alone are not responsible for pollution. Construction dust, demolition debris, and garbage burning are major contributors, yet monitoring there remains weak. Solving pollution needs a coordinated, long-term approach."
Police confirmed that round-the-clock deployment will continue at three major Noida-Delhi borders on Friday to intercept non-compliant vehicles, as the city grapples with its anti-pollution strategy and its unintended consequences.
